Hearings
Hearing Structure
The purpose of the Student Fee Review Board (SFRB) hearings is to provide time for all departments applying for funding to give a detailed overview of their budgets and financial needs. The Board recommends this format for presentations in order to convey all necessary information in an efficient and effective manner, while allowing sufficient time for a question and answer period. We believe this standardized format will benefit all applicants by providing the Board the information necessary to make decisions regarding the final budget. Public comment at the hearing will only be done at the opening of the meeting. The primary forum for public feedback in regards to requests will be at the Student Forums.
Recommended Hearing Presentation Structure
Twenty-Five (25) minute hearings for departments requesting <$350,000
First 15 minutes:
- Detailed overview of the use of SFRB funding for the current year.
- Detailed overview of the use of SFRB funding for the next fiscal year.
- Detailed explanation of any increase in funding request.
Second 10 minutes:
- Question and answer period
Thirty-Five (35) minute hearings for departments requesting >$350,000
First 25 minutes:
- Detailed overview of the use of SFRB funding for the current year.
- Detailed overview of the use of SFRB funding for the next fiscal year.
- Detailed explanation of any increase in funding request.
Second 10 minutes:
- Question and answer period
On the recommendation of the University President, the SFRB process will now be done in the Fall semester as opposed to the usual spring semester. This is to allow for greater time to formulate the University-wide budget. As such, hearings for the FY 2021-22 year will begin in September 2020. A new and positive aspect to the funding process for SFRB fees is the collaboration with the renamed Budget Leadership Team (BLT). formerly Strategic Budget Leadership Team (SBLT). This requires the initial recommendation from the Board to be presented in December, much earlier than it has been in previous years.
Therefore we are putting more emphasis on the community forums, formerly known as town halls, as the vehicle for students to express their experiences and thoughts concerning various departments. Student input and community comment remain a vital part of the funding process. We respectfully ask for your support and understanding during this year of transition for our timetable.
These dates allow sufficient time for the Board to review budgets and to hold community forums and deliberations. In order to be responsive to the earlier University budget schedule this year, we must complete this process before submitting a preliminary recommendation to the Budget Leadership Team (BLT), as stipulated in the revised University Policy 1310.
Upon receiving all applications, we have assigned individual hearings to give enough notice to each applicant. In addition, applicants with specific scheduling needs may request convenient time slots. It is important to remember that this schedule also benefits all stakeholders by providing sufficient time for the Board to thoroughly address all concerns in the funding process.
